DOSBox-X and Windows 98

This guide will be a step-be-step guide of how to setup Window 98 on a modern computer.

First download the application DOSBox-X (The download link is to the lower left, 32/64-bit Setup (XP+)):

https://dosbox-x.com/

I choose to install mine at C:\DOSBox-X (The reaming of the instrucstion will refere to this path), follow the settings as below:

After the installation has finished, place a Windows 98 ISO file as well as any other application or game ISO file in the directory: C:\DOSBox-X

Create a configuration file at C:\DOSBox-X\win98.conf (source DOSBox-X config file):

[sdl]
autolock=true

[dosbox]
title=Windows 98
memsize=128

[video]
vmemsize=8
vesa modelist width limit=0
vesa modelist height limit=0

[dos]
ver=7.1
hard drive data rate limit=0
floppy drive data rate limit=0
keyboardlayout=dk

[cpu]
cputype=pentium_mmx
core=normal

[sblaster]
sbtype=sb16vibra

[fdc, primary]
int13fakev86io=true

[ide, primary]
int13fakeio=true
int13fakev86io=true

[ide, secondary]
int13fakeio=true
int13fakev86io=true
cd-rom insertion delay=4000

[render]
scaler=none

[config]
COUNTRY=45

[autoexec]

Now create a shortcut on the desktop, right-click followed by selecting New -> Shortcut

Insert the following in the Text Box "C:\DOSBox-X\dosbox-x.exe -conf C:\DOSBox-X\win98.conf"

And set a reasonable name like "Windows 98"

Now double-click on the shortcut

Execute the following commands in DOSBox-X

  • IMGMAKE hdd.img -t hd_8gig
  • IMGMOUNT C hdd.img
  • IMGMOUNT D Win98.iso
  • IMGMOUNT A -bootcd D
  • BOOT A:

Select "Boot from CD-ROM"

Select "Start Windows 98 Setup from CD-ROM"

When the installation is done, close down DOSBox-X and change the configuration file C:\DOSBox-X\win98.conf to the following.

[sdl]
autolock=true

[dosbox]
title=Windows 98
memsize=128

[video]
vmemsize=8
vesa modelist width limit=0
vesa modelist height limit=0

[dos]
ver=7.1
hard drive data rate limit=0
floppy drive data rate limit=0
keyboardlayout=dk

[cpu]
cputype=pentium_mmx
core=normal

[sblaster]
sbtype=sb16vibra

[fdc, primary]
int13fakev86io=true

[ide, primary]
int13fakeio=true
int13fakev86io=true

[ide, secondary]
int13fakeio=true
int13fakev86io=true
cd-rom insertion delay=4000

[render]
scaler=none

[config]
COUNTRY=45

[autoexec]
IMGMOUNT C hdd.img
IMGMOUNT D "Windows 98 Second Edition.iso"
BOOT C:

Now start DOSBox-X again with the newly edited configuration file and finish the Windows installation.

When the installation finalize, do the following steps

  • Create a directory inside Windows 98 at "C:\WIN98"
  • Copy all content (except ols and tour) from "D:\WIN98" to the newly created directory "C:\WIN98" (pro tip: might need to right-click on the D:\ drive and select explorer to pass by the auto-run function)
  • Start "REGEDIT" from Run (Click on Start in the lower left corner and select the application Run)

Navigate to "HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Setup" and change "SourcePath=" to the location where you copied the files "SourcePath=C:\WIN98"

Congratulations 👏

If you made it this far you have now sucessfully installed an old operating system on your computer.

Next Step

An game ISO is placed in the root directory C:\DOSBox-X\Gys Paa Regneslottet.iso (note, without the character å), to access this contain inside Windows 98 extended the C:\DOSBox-X\win98.conf to the following.

[sdl]
autolock=true

[dosbox]
title=Windows 98
memsize=128

[video]
vmemsize=8
vesa modelist width limit=0
vesa modelist height limit=0

[dos]
ver=7.1
hard drive data rate limit=0
floppy drive data rate limit=0
keyboardlayout=dk

[cpu]
cputype=pentium_mmx
core=normal

[sblaster]
sbtype=sb16vibra

[fdc, primary]
int13fakev86io=true

[ide, primary]
int13fakeio=true
int13fakev86io=true

[ide, secondary]
int13fakeio=true
int13fakev86io=true
cd-rom insertion delay=4000

[render]
scaler=none

[config]
COUNTRY=45

[autoexec]
IMGMOUNT C hdd.img
IMGMOUNT D "Windows 98 Second Edition.iso"
IMGMOUNT E "Gys Paa Regneslottet.iso"
BOOT C:

Furthermore, fullscreen might be desirable, add the following to the [sdl] of C:\DOSBox-X\win98.conf like so

[sdl]
autolock=true
fullscreen=true